Friday, June 28, 2013

It's the last day of the In Tune conference, but still worth posting about and still worth checking out! This year PT folk Kaitlin Williams and Chris Lam are involved in some of the performances. Check out their press release, and what's going on today, below!

In Tune Conference
Creating the Great Canadian Musical

Following the success of the 2011 In Tune Conference, the event returns to Granville Island in late June 2013, animating Granville Island with a full palate of events that explore and celebrate the creation of original Canadian musicals and music theatre. Co-Curated by Touchstone’s Artistic Director Katrina Dunn and the Arts Club’s Literary Manager Rachel Ditor, In Tune’s nine action-filled days combine the discussion and networking of an industry conference with the excitement and innovation of a development event. The many public offerings allow audience members a great glimpse into the newest Canadian musicals in development, and the ideas that are moving the form forward.

In Tune’s programming includes Masterclasses, Workshops of new works, Showcases, and Panel Discussions. 2013’s Masterclasses feature multiple Tony nominated, award-winning composer, lyricist and librettist, Michael John LaChiusa, teaching a combined composition and book writing intensive with playwright, lyricist, librettist and Tony Award nominee Sybille Pearson. Titled “In The Works” this class is an amazing opportunity to learn from two of American musical theatre’s most important and successful innovators. The other two Masterclasses are led by two of Canada’s leading musical theatre practitioners: freelance director Robert McQueen teaching vocal performance and Artistic Director of Theatre Arts at The Banff Centre Kelly Robinson teaching direction.

Showcase highlights include the Canadian Songbook Cabaret, curated by Musical TheatreWorks’ Barbara Tomasic and hosted by Jay Brazeau, featuring rarely heard treasures from the Canadian songbook performed by Vancouver luminaries. Also of note is In Tune’s Feature Presentation: Tom Pinkerton: The Ballad of Butterfly’s Son, with book and lyrics by Hiro Kanagawa and music and lyrics by David MacIntyre. Come and experience 30 minutes of this in-progress stunning new work, which follows on from the events of Puccini’s opera Madama Butterfly. Robert McQueen directs this excerpt, sung by some of Vancouver’s finest, and followed by audience feedback. Not to be missed is Peter Jorgensen leading Michael John Lachiusa and Sybille Pearson through a comprehensive public interview, delving into their career highlights, their creative process, and the business aspects of writing musicals. And capping off In Tune are several sessions shared with the overlapping conference of the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas, which include Live Action Case Studies of 10 new musicals in development and a panel discussion on the emerging field of musical theatre dramaturgy from a cross-border perspective.

Get a taste of the most current and innovative work in the genre with this showcase featuring short excerpts from 10 new Canadian musicals, including works currently in development or musicals that have been recently premiered. Along with each excerpt are short descriptions of the unique creation process that led to each work. A live action consideration of how musicals are being created in this country.

Hosted by In Tune Co-Curator Katrina Dunn.
In conjunction with the LMDA (Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas) Annual Conference

An international panel on new musical development and dissemination featuring leading figures from the US and Canada. Moderated by Canadian dramaturg Paula Danckert, this debate is designed to spark conversation leading to new opportunities for composers and book writers in Canada.

FEATURE PRESENTATION – Tom Pinkerton; The Ballad of Butterfly’s Son
Book by Hiro Kanagawa, Music by David MacIntyre, Lyrics by Hiro Kanagawa and David MacIntyre
7pm - 8pm, Arts Club’s Revue Stage
By Donation

At the end of Puccini’s opera Madama Butterfly, the 3-year-old child of Cio-Cio and B.F. Pinkerton is whisked away to America to be raised by Pinkerton and his American wife, Kate. Set 20 years after these events, Tom Pinkerton finds the child struggling to become a man and searching for the mother he never knew. We travel with the youth, now called Tom, as he revisits the Nagasaki of his birth to find love and self-realization. But is he fated to repeat the sins of his father? After a workshop as part of In Tune, our Feature Presentation shows 30 minutes of this stunning new work performed in a staged reading, sung by a cast led by Alessandra Juliani as Tom. Audience feedback to follow.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

After our successful first summer camp last year, we decided to expand and add a week for teens! From July 15-19th teens ages 13-15 will take over our little alley stage, learning about all aspects of performance from some of PT's most beloved artists. Leading the charge will be a familiar face to PT audiences - meet Kerri Norris:

Kerri is a local Actor, Director, Costumer....basically she loves anything to do with theatre. She has a BA from the University of Saskatchewan and an MFA from the California Institute of the Arts. She started working at PT with Stones Throw Productions in "A Wrinkle in Time" and she's stayed involved with the theatre ever since. Most recently she Directed the touring production of "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe". Over the course of her career Kerri has taught every age group from toddlers to adults. Last Summer she taught a Shakespeare camp for RCTC and a day long drama camp for the City of New Westminster. She loves being inspired by her students creativity and is always amazed at the energy and fun she has with every teaching experience.

It's not too late to register, but there are only two spaces left for both weeks of our camps. If you'd like to register your child or teen, call the office at 604-731-5483 or download the registration form here.

PT KiDS SUMMER THEATRE SCHOOL:

Who:

Kids aged 9-12 years

When:

July 8-12, 2013 – 10am-3pm

Where:

Pacific Theatre 1440 W 12th Ave

How Much:

$200.00 (including tax)$150.00 (for each additional child from the same family)

PT TEENS SUMMER THEATRE SCHOOL:

Who:

Teens aged 13-15 years

When:

July 15-19, 2013 – 10am-3pm

Where:

Pacific Theatre 1440 W 12th Ave

How Much:

$200.00 (including tax)$150.00 (for each additional child from the same family)

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

The Jessie Awards were on Monday night, and if you follow us on Facebook or Twitter, you probably already heard the exciting news...

Erla won Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role in HOW TO WRITE A NEW BOOK FOR THE BIBLE! We were ecstatic to see her get the recognition she so richly deserves for her work.

There was a whole swath of PT artists that won for their other work, though - we got to witness Andrew McNee and John Emmet Tracy win for their leading roles, and they'll both me on our stage next year in THE SEAFARER, and then long-time PT actress Gina Chiarelli for her knockout performance in MASTER CLASS - all one after the other! Congrats everyone!

Join us on Saturday, June 29th at Locarno Beach for a fun family BBQ celebrating the end of of our 29th season and the beginning of summer! Featuring carnival games, a kids theatre workshop and live music with Sheree Plett.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

We're getting geared up for PT AT THE HOLLYWOOD this weekend! It's going to be a fantastic night of theatre and film, and we can't wait to see you there - in the meantime, here's a little more on some of the films and filmmakers we'll be showing.

First up, we've got Jason Goode - he directed DANNY AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA two seasons ago at PT, with those stunning performances by Aleks Paunovic and Lori Triolo. We'll be showing his short film THE PLANTING, so get ready by checking out another one of his shorts, THE HITCHIKER, also featuring Aleks Paunovic and Gina Chiarelli (THE BUSY WORLD IS HUSHED).

Also playing is Murray Stiller, we'll be showing his short film MOTEL DEPOT featuring Craig Erickson (LEAVE OF ABSENCE). Murray Stiller has made a name for himself as a sound designer and the maker of such films as NAILIN' IT TO THE CHURCH and EXTREME JESUS, and we can't wait to see what he's got with this new film.

Remember Kyla Ferrier's moving rendition of "Where Are You Going" in GODSPELL? Well that girl's got a music career started, and so we'll be screening her first music video!

Finally, Giovanni Mocibob (DOUBT) is featured in Richard Duke's FIGHTING FREE, and you can see Kirsty Provan (THE GREAT DIVORCE) in MANSTRUATION.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

PT audiences will recognize Kirsty Provan as an artist who's long been associated with the company. She is not only a talented actor and writer, but also great with kids and has run her own summer camps for many years. Now we've snapped her up to help out with PT's KiDS Summer Theatre School! Read on to learn more about Kirsty:

Kirsty is thrilled to be teaching the kid's camps at PT this summer! A past apprentice of PT, and a Studio 58 Graduate, she was last seen as Minnie Hume in The Secret Doctrine (Electric Co.). Kirsty works in both theatre and film, and was involved in the 2013 Crazy 8's Film Festival this Spring. She completed the Arts Club Actors' Intensive in June, is currently teaching young actor programs at PT and at Bard on the Beach, as well as privately.

She has been working in daycare and nannying since she was a young 'un herself, and loves combining her passion of Art with her love of play and working with children. She is a Producer of "The Playground Series," which featured her own script, "He Roars," that was developed and staged at the end of May. She founded her own Princess Party business in 2012 (mylittleprincess.ca), and spends all of her time off-stage handing out an excess of pixie dust at tea parties.

Friday, June 14, 2013

There are only a few spots left for both kids and teens at this year's PT SUMMER THEATRE SCHOOL. As we count down to July 8th we thought we should introduce you to the instructors who will be working with all the students this summer. First up is KiDS camp leader Kaitlin Williams:

Kaitlin is a staff member at Pacific Theatre, as well as a local Vancouver actor and drama educator. With over ten years experience working with kids, she was thrilled to lead the PT KiDS theatre school last year and is looking forward to year two. One of her favourite parts of teaching drama is witnessing kids discover the joys of theatre and performance for the first time. She knows the week at the PT camp will be a blast and can't wait to once again connect with PT's younger community.

Kaitlin with two of last year's KiDS camp participants.

Directing the kids before last year's big performance!

All the kids from the 2012 PT Summer Theatre School.

There are very few spaces left for PT Summer Theatre school. If you are interested in registering your child, call 604-731-5483 today or download a registration form here.

PT KiDS SUMMER THEATRE SCHOOL:

Who:

Kids aged 9-12 years

When:

July 8-12, 2013 – 10am-3pm

Where:

Pacific Theatre 1440 W 12th Ave

How Much:

$200.00 (including tax)$150.00 (for each additional child from the same family)

PT TEENS SUMMER THEATRE SCHOOL:

Who:

Teens aged 13-15 years

When:

July 15-19, 2013 – 10am-3pm

Where:

Pacific Theatre 1440 W 12th Ave

How Much:

$200.00 (including tax)$150.00 (for each additional child from the same family)

Normally summer at PT is a time when we hunker down and prepare for the next season, but this year we decided that we couldn't let all that glorious sunshine (that we'll get in theory) go to waste! We're partnering with our friends at Company of Disciples to host a beach BBQ! Come celebrate summer, the long weekend, and our coming 30th anniversary with us.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Yesterday we drew the winner of our Early Bird Draw for 2013-2014 subscribers! The prize? A local vacation package including a night at Rosedale on Robson Suite Hotel and dinner at Siena Restaurant. Congratulations to Pat and Anthony Schmidt for your win!

Pacific Theatre presents PT at the Hollywood, a spectacular evening of theatre and film in one of Vancouver’s most beloved and historic venues: The Hollywood Theatre.

Pacific Theatre, then, is excited to invite you to this event at the grand old Hollywood! Come and enjoy the results of our 24-hour Theatre Under the Gun fest, exciting new one-act plays written and produced in record time and designed exclusively for the Hollywood Theatre stage.

Punctuating the plays, we’ll screen short films featuring members of the Pacific Theatre community, including Craig Erickson, Kirsty Provan, Kyla Ferrier, and Giovanni Mocibob (in a film by DANNY AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA director Jason Goode). You’ve loved them on stage – now thrill to them on screen!

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Apprentice Cara Cunningham's latest work A GOOD WAY OUT opens tonight! Come check out a new play by a budding new playwright!

A GOOD WAY OUT by Cara Cunningham
June 12-15 at 8pm (2pm matinee Saturday)
Tickets $15 available here.Remember, subscribers, you get in FREE to all apprentice events - email tickets@pacifictheatre.org to reserve your tickets.

Monday, June 10, 2013

This weekend our recently-departed Season Apprentice Shayna Jones will be performing in a cabaret-style show with some of the cast of DREAMGIRLS at Guilt and Co. This will be her first time singing solo in public, so you'll definitely want to be there, because this gal's going to be an "I knew her when..."-type. Her email invitation is below:

Come one Come all!

The cast of Dreamgirls and I are performing a la Cabaret at Guilt and Co this Sunday night June 16th.

We are bringing you songs we love sung with an awesome three piece band. Come for some good music, good drinks, and good company.

Two songs will be performed by yours truly. Marking my first public solo performance ever! God help us. Don't miss it!

Thursday, June 06, 2013

Registration for the PT Summer Theatre School is gearing up! As we count down to July 8th and the beginning of summer camp 2013, we thought we'd take a look back at all the fun we had last year:

ready to go on the first morning!

doing some painting to help with the set

new friends!

improv with the panic squad guys!

the graduates of the 2012 summer camp.

If PT Summer Theatre School looks like something your child might be interested in, register today! PT KiDS camp runs July 8-12th and PT Teens will run July 15th-19th. Spots are limited and filling up quickly! To register download the registration form here, call the office at 604-731-5483 or email Kaitlin at kaitlin@pacifictheatre.org.

Wednesday, June 05, 2013

Company Apprentice Karyn Guenther is looking for submissions for a 24 Hour Theatre Under the Gun festival to take place at the historic Hollywood Theatre in Kits! This is a pretty once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be on the stage of this heritage venue, and to be a part of some new, exciting theatre. Submission info below.

PT at The Hollywood: Short Film Fest & Theatre Under The Gun

Looking for ACTORS, WRITERS, and DIRECTORS who would like to participate in Theatre Under The Gun. This event is a fundraiser for Pacific Theatre. There will be 5 groups between 3-6 people. Each group will receive a Hollywood inspired package and will have to create a 10-15 min. sketch in 24 hours! You can submit as a group or you can also submit individually and you'll be placed in a group.

The schedule for this event is as follows:

Thursday, June 20th

6:00-7:00pm- Everyone meets at the Hollywood and teams receive their inspiration packages
7:00pm-7:00am- Playwrights are writing

Friday, June 21st

8:00am-8:00pm- Actors and Directors meet for first read and all day rehearsal

Saturday, June 22nd

1:00-6:00pm- Everyone gets a tech time

8:00pm- Show starts!

To Apply: If you are interested in submitting, please email Karyn Guenther at karyn.guenther@gmail.com with your full name, position you would like, headshot and resume, and whether you are submitting individually or in a group.

Saturday, June 01, 2013

The first show in the PLAYGROUND SERIES is coming up quick! HE ROARS by Kirsty Provan is this year's edition of the Rosedale on Robson Writer's Week - we'll spend a week workshopping the script with actors, a director, and a dramaturg, and then have two public staged readings to follow (remember WOLF AT THE DOOR last year? It'll be like that).

2 Children, a Wardrobe, and a common dream. Rose and Charlie cling together as they navigate the corridors of life, struggling to believe in something Greater than the decade war that takes them from childhood to something else.